Trends in pulmonary embolism mortality in the US elderly population: 1984 through 1991.

Objectives: This study determined race-, age- and sex-specific trends in 30-day pulmonary embolism mortality rates.
Methods: Medicare beneficiaries with a primary or secondary discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism from 1984 to 1991 (n = 391,991) were examined.
Results: For a primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, mortality rates declined by 15.2% and 16.0%, respectively, for White male patients 65 to 74 years old and 75 years or older. There was a corresponding decline in mortality rates for White women. For a secondary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, mortality rates declined by 14.7% and 9.8%, respectively, for White male patients 65 to 74 years old and 75 years or older.
Conclusions: The White mortality rate declines revealed in this study did not translate, in all cases, to Black patient groups.